Comments about the Farnes from an ex-Head Warden who proudly served the islands for fourteen years

Monday, 22 September 2014

Fea-Lin Great!

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Fea's 'type' Petrel - photo was taken in July 2013 by Gary Woodburn from Beadnell

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Monday 22nd September comments: It proved to be an unprecedented day along the north-east coast yesterday as just after 8am a Fea’s ‘type’ Petrel was discovered flying north of Flamborugh Head in East Yorkshire. Over the next ten hours, 107 birders from 16 different sites connected with this amazing oceanic wanderer.

With all the modern day technologies and top of the range optics, the bird was successfully tracked all the way to the Scottish borders before darkness set in preventing further sightings to the north. This day and age it’s not uncommon for birds to be tracked up the coast but this was on an impressive scale.

For those who saw the bird, it was well worth it and although the individual involved can not be narrowed down to exact species (due to the difficulties of identification at sea) it will long live on the memory. Thanks to everyone who contributed times and totals of people – great work birding team!

Time Location Number of birders08:15 Flamborough Head (E.Yorks) 9

09:00 Filey Brigg (N.Yorks) 5

09:47 Long Nab, Burniston (N.Yorks) 2

11:25 Cowbar (Cleveland) 3

14:00 Seaham (Durham) 1

14:23 Whitburn (Durham) 40

15:00 Tynemouth (Northumberland) 1

Cullercoats (Northumberland) 1

St.Marys, Whitley Bay (Northumberland) 9

15:51 Newbiggin (Northumberland) 20

16:06 Snab Point (Northumberland) 5

16:25 Druridge Bay (Northumberland) 1

17:25 Beadnell (Northumberland) 3

17:35 Annstead Point (Northumberland) 1

17:45 Farne Islands (Northumberland) 4

18:15 Holy Island (Northumberland) 1

...and not to forget all the other great seabirds which were sen including a Great Shearwater off the Farne Islands early in the morning. An epic day all round!!